Operation Renovation: The last of the summer wine, and sorting out Autumn wardrobes

[ControlGeek]

Following on the heels of the previous renovation threads, this one will seal the deal on Summer and take us nicely into Autumn with a flurry of mn scarves and flashes of seasonal nail varnish.

As always, this thread is for all types of renovation - diet, hair, make-up, clothes, or simply finding ways to make more time for you.

The rules are simple, make a list of 10 things (or as many as you are comfortable with) you will do to start to work towards your renovation goal and decide how frequently you need to do these.

The pinstripe suit sounds a good option lucysmam, go with the embroidered boots if necessary. I had to go to my first funeral a few year ago and was terrified I would wear the wrong thing because it wasn't totally black Victorian style. I couldn't have been more wrong - everyone was in the best they could muster, it wasn't a fashion parade and nobody cared that I had white flowers on my black dress (yes, I was totally paranoid!). Whatever you choose will be perfect x

Thanks Control, I just don't want to be underdone in a tee or overdone in my boots or snakeskin shoes if you get me? To me, they're more going out clothes. I don't suppose anyone will notice will they?

(I've never been to a funeral as an adult, only been to three in my whole life -one was my mam's & dad put me & my sister in frilly little party dress type dresses iirc).

Are you looking after yourself too?

I think the key thing is that it is respectful Lucysmam, I've been to three as an adult (lost all three remaining grandparents in close succession) and everyone just wore whatever dark clothes they had in their wardrobe at the time. A t-shirt underneath a dark jacket would be perfectly acceptable. Has a date for the funeral been set yet? Will you all have to travel back down to Poole for it?

Things are ok here. We're looking after each other as best we can, but the house is a mess. Need to try and get DP to make a start on his normal routines, and make a start on my own. I'm getting quite anxious about work, there have been some very major changes while I've been signed off but I can't let myself get too worked up about it in case the stress causes me to need even more time off.

I was stressing about what to wear to my DGM's funeral the other week lucysmam . There is no black in my very limited maternity wardrobe and it was way to hot for the grey dress and black tights I had originally decided on. I ended up in a fitted navy t-short with small white polka dots and navy fitted trousers with tan flats and my fake pearls. My granny would have approved.

When are you back to work control ? Make sure you've given yourself enough time and on the other side I found it helped to take my mind off things sometimes to be busy.

Have had a busy day here with zero pamper time since I spent ages on the phone with friend planning a hen do (which is in only 2 weeks! eek!).

Need to wash hair before bed though as have a GP appt for low iron and B12 tomorrow. Reckon she may give me a B12 shot and iron tablets btu not sure.

Btw, saw that Liz Earle have their facial treatments (scrub and 2 different masks) as one of their September offers here. Going to order some tomorrow.

How are you and DP lucysmam? Is he back with you now?

Calling I'm sorry to heard about your DGM. Your outfit sounded lovely though. Good luck at the gp's today.

My sick note comes to an end on Friday. DP is signed off for a further week after that (his gp got confused with the dates - she thought she was signing him off to go back the same day as me but accidentally added another week onto it).

I have a gp appt on the Friday to make sure I am fit to go back. A lady is coming to talk to me about counselling on Wednesday and on Thursday I have to have a further scan and blood test to make sure it's all over. After that little lot I'm not sure whether I'll be up to going back on the Monday.

Also, work have had major changes while I've been off, and I don't know what will have happened to all my stuff (text books, course folders, personal property) as cupboards and personal pedestals have been removed, my team have relocated to a different floor with teeny tiny miniscule smaller desks and we each now have a tiny yellow wall locker in which to place everything. Paper has been banned Feeling very stressed and anxious about going back, to be honest.

On the plus side, I shredded for the first time since Spain today. I'm going to aim for a minimum of three times a week, anything else is a bonus. My goal is to be fit and strong for when they operate to remove my fibroid(s). It's likely to be three or four months down the line, minimum, so I should have plenty of time to tone up.

Sorry for the major essay, though it does feel good to get all that off my chest!

Good morning ladies

Control and Calling thank you so much for your help with my funeral outfit. I'm going to try on my tee shirt under my suit and see how it feels. It did occur to me that my shoes will probably not go with my suit though. I'm getting myself in a pickle over it really

Control it's good that you and your dp are looking after each other. The house being a mess doesn't matter - you can pick that back up when things start to get back to normal for you.

Dp's home now. Having a hard time but I'm doing as much as I can & keep on top of the house. His dad's gf is causing problems already - NOK stuff so it's going to be a tough and expensive few weeks I think.

I'm hoping dp is going to be ok to work the end of this week as we're going to struggle for the rent if not.

Back on topic - I still did my pamper session last night, except my nails because I cba. Might do them today at some point.

I'm nearly out of foundation/mascara but am going to have to streeeeeetch what's there for the next few weeks unless Poundland/99p shop have anything to keep me going.

Just had bacon & an egg with some wholemeal toast for brunch . Tea tonight is the remains of the pie I made yesterday for the girls and I'm not sure but probably something with salad for us since breakfast was bacon.

I need to get in the garage still to sort out the suitcases but feel a bit cba ish so might wait until later in the week.

Right...off to do something useful.

Have a good Monday all, will check back in later

I'm back for another moan about dp's dad's gf. Dp has text her to ask her to ring the funeral director (in Poole) and find out what sort of deposit we need to find between us (so 50:50 split to make it a bit easier on us all).

Her response...she has no money & is keeping the car

So I think we're going to bring him home to us rather than leave him down there just for her sake.

Seems like she's "washed her hands" & is getting on with her own life while we scrabble about picking up the pieces and organising everything

What a cow!

Flipping heck, tell me they didn't live together! Make sure DP gets photos of any of his DF's possessions that he'd like to keep but can't take with him after the funeral as proof that she has them. I know it will incur yet more cost, but get a solicitor involved at an early stage if she's going to be like that. Their fees will come out of the estate so you shouldn't need to pay anything up front. Is your DP's DB any help with standing up to the GF? You/he shouldn't have to do this alone.

His brother's about as useful as a chocolate tea pot!

dp has spoken to a solicitor. She's just ignoring everything & doing as she pleases so a letter laying out the basics is being sent out to her I think (i.e. dp is his son & heir, he's to deal with his dad's estate etc). Hopefully we won't need more than that...

All we wanted to know was how much deposit we need so we can start to scrabble it together.

We're crossing everything atm that he hadn't cashed his army pension so we could use that for the funeral costs and other stuff like any debts left behind etc.

It's been a very looooong, very coffee fuelled day today! Roll on bedtime.

Hello!
lucy, I am so sorry for your loss. Hope the feuds will resolve soon :)

So, I've finally painted my toenails and defuzzed properly. I also got myself a new foundation (a l'oreal one), new mascara and eyeliner (my eyes were getting a bit itchy, I suppose I had enough bacteria in there, time for a change).
I am going to have my eyebrows threaded tomorrow and I am going to venture into a big town looking for some winter clothes. I need a couple of dresses.
And shred!
Hope your week is going well.

Thinking of you lucysmam . Hope you've managed to overcome all the family and financial stress.

helena had missed your question on earrings. Will post a pic later of my 2 favourite earrings that I have. Got them from great little shop in Exeter called Ziggy's years ago.

Waves at kia , control and everyone lese who's floating around!

Have felt shocking here this week- knackered, achy, emotional, can't sleep. Going to get first in a course of B12 shots this morning so hoping they will help me feel a bit more stable in terms of mood and energy.

Am keeping up with basic clothes, cleansing and moisturising routines.

lucysmam sorry I've been AWOL, been working loads. So sorry the girlfriend is being a bitch! As others have said, don't worry too much about what you're wearing, as long as it's respectful no one will care if it's not 100% black.

Oh dear, thread has gone a bit quiet?

Had a productive morning this morning. Had my hair cut, even shorter than before and a bit spiky on the top. Also had my eyebrows waxed. Got some more foundation and a lip stain from Boots and got a free gift which consists of an eye shadow, an eye shadow brush, an eyeliner and a mascara. The shorter I have my hair the more make up I need, otherwise I look a bit washed out. Also went to Dorothy Perkins and bought a necklace like this but in a sort of pale orange/light brown colour. I'm hoping it will jazz up plain tops for work. Also had to buy some more hand cream, which at least shows I'm using it regularly!

Good evening all

Jemima, it is a bit quiet I probably killed it with my moaning

Well, we made it to the end of the week with no more drama. Thank you all for your kind words & listening to me moan

I've kept on top of normal routines, apart from last night. I flopped last night - didn't wash my hair, dry it or moisturise anything But I have done it all tonight apart from blow drying. Tomorrow's no make up day here, may put a little bit of foundation/mascara on to nip for milk but that'll be it.

I packed my summer clothes away yesterday, and most of the girls' as well. Got out dd1's outgrown bits I saved for dd2 and wrote a list of things dd1 will need with winter coming up.

I plan to try and increase my water intake this week coming -I drank that much coffee one day this week, I ended up with the shakes...not good

Also plan to try to organise my jewellery somehow so I wear more of it. I have no idea how though but am starting to get bored of the same stuff all the time.

Anyway, am off to watch the last bit of X Factor and eat ice cream. Hope you're all having a nice weekend.

oooh, just clicked your necklace link Jemima, that's very pretty. Wonder if Primarni might have something similar closer to Christmas that dp could get me

lucysmam I use this to organise my earrings, and leave it propped on my windowsill for easy access. Haven't yet found anything for necklaces other than the idea of a corkboard covered in fabric and pin them on though. Glad you've not had any additional drama, hopefully it will start to go a bit more smoothly from here.

Jemima oooh to the haircut! You do suit short hair though, you have a very pretty face. How long do the lipstains last? Are they really better than lipsticks in terms of eating/drinking etc?

karbea good to see you around, sorry that work is taking over though. It's so hard to fit in the time for ourselves when it gets like that.

I've been signed off for another fortnight, with a phased return to work following that. I'm using this next week to get myself back on track, not have to think about work, then the following week I'm meeting with my manager and hopefully starting to get my head around everything and all the changes that have happened in my absence. DP and I are talking lots about getting chickens. We'll need to throw a fair bit of money in that direction before we can have them (trees to be cut down, chicken housing to be erected etc) but it is giving us a short-medium term goal since our next IVF (if we decide to go for another) will be at least a 18 months away.

Control that looks fab!

I've just ordered a plastic clear small chest of drawers with the idea of using to organise my jewellery, but my now use it for something else and buy myself more lovely presents instead . Will link tomorrow when I'm back on the laptop.

Look after yourselves ladies

Control be gentle with yourself over the next few weeks xx a Phased return sounds very sensible. Have you seen those Eglu things for chickens? I was once chatting to a lady at a wedding, she took in ex-battery chickens. Apparently sometimes their feathers are too thin so she knitted them jumpers for the winter - batshit and lovely in equal measure

Lucysmam i hope things are more settled now. I need to go through my DD's clothes as well, she's growing at a rate of knots at the moment I ordered her some autumn goodies from Vertbaudet (had a code for 30% off) and had to send some stuff back and swap it for age 6 (she will be 5 in the new year!)

I am going to treat myself to a couple of new bits of make up for the autumn tomorrow as I'll be going past a massive Boots after a softplay party DD's going to list of all the MN Swears By beauty products in case its handy for anyone else.

Ah, blondie, welcome to my world! I have a DD who has always had to have clothes 2-3 years older than her age. She's just really really tall. I love Vertbaudet, their clothes are so nice!
Thank you for the list.
I bought a Bourjois primer, it's very nice. And a new l'oreal foundation. I haven't had foundation for years, always used max factor face cream with a bit of foundation, or BB cream. Well, I put a proper dollop of foundation on, forgetting you only need a tiny amount, it is not cream!!!! I was a sight!!!!
Today is rest and pamper day. I had a manic day yesterday, but throroughly enjoyable.
Today we take it easy.
Have a lovely Sunday everyone!

control, a big hug from me. You sound very sensible taking it easy and gradually returning to work. Book a holiday for next year, it'll give you something to look forward to?

Good morning ladies

Control, a phased return to work sounds like a good idea - gives you time to get used to changes and back into routines. Are there major changes? (uno has turned into a random game of snap atm btw ).

I think you linked the earring wallet on the first thread. It's something like that I need, or one of those mesh stand thingys you put them on so you can see at a glance what you have.

Blondie I haven't bought anything for dd2 for ages (odd tee shirt here & there so she doesn't feel left out) and there are four little summer dresses I've taken out that I can hopefully turn into skirts for next year. It's the oldest I struggle with, she's seven but wears age 13 clothes (and my pj's). Nothing seems to last her well at all.

kia, rest and pamper day here too. I'm half way through tackling my brows following a youtube vid - first one looks really neat so if the other one turns out as well, I'll stick to diy and save the fiver!